My goal for Canada Day (3.4 weeks away): 7 pounds. (200.5 - 193.5)

I weighed in this morning and lost one more pound. 4.5 pounds lost 2.5 pounds to go until Canada Day.

Wow, I had no idea the site had crashed. Bummer about the lost posts, but at least we're back! I'm still floating in the 198/199 range, nothing new to report yet on the scale. I have started lifting again, still jogging, and the knee is still feeling pretty good, so hopefully I can keep on with what I'm doing. Glad to see folks reporting in. I've been wondering how all our challengers are doing. Vikki, welcome and good luck!

Really screwed up yesterday, and I'm up 2.5 pounds.

9.5 to go.

ETA

Pardon my manners - thank you, jamsk8r

Vikki, I have my "crash and burn" days, too. You know that's just water retention, right? Drinking water helps flush it back out.

Today is my rest day. The plan is to make sure I have clean clothes for working out this week, pack the new gym bag, somehow get shampoo and conditioner into those tiny travel bottles, and otherwise make sure I have no excuses for not heading straight out the door (to the Y) in the morning. I love working out, but I'm still a bit intimidated by the idea of working out with other people around, especially in the weight room.

Yay for e-hugs! I know, it's just hard to see that *number*. But I didn't let myself pout this morning. I had a healthy breakfast and then I worked out for 30 hard minutes on the bike.

As for working out in front of others, honestly if you have to work out with a ton of gym bunnies, they are more likely to be thinking, "Good for her!" instead of "Why does she even bother?"

If they are genuinely into fitness, there's no way they'll frown on someone trying to get in shape. It's hard when you're comparing yourself to those perfect bodies who are just maintaining, but we're all trying to achieve the same thing in the end.

Hello fellow Canada Day challengers!

As I mentioned before the crash, I started with a personal trainer. She was concerned I was overtraining with cycling and suggested cutting back a bit. The reasons for suspecting that was the short stall with weight loss, fatigue and sleep disturbances. I just thought it was the heat and hormones!

Starting Monday of last week I followed her advice and cut back a bit on the intensity and frequency of my rides. Sure enough, my energy is back and I lost 7 pounds by working out less and eating more.

Crazy!

But I just got a cadence and gps sesnsor for the bike, so I don't know if I'll be able to stay away much this week! I lovelovelove bicycling!

Vikki- hugs to you too! It's not a 'real' gain although I know it feels like one.

Jammy- you're intimidated by working out with other people? YOU the Renaissance Woman? From what I've observed you seem like such a confident person. Jamskating, dog scootering and deck building would intimidate me more than the weights! Could the Y provide a personal trainer for one session to ensure your form and reps are correct to bolster your confidence?

Yay Layri! Can't wait to see your next reward!

Retiredone- you are halfway there! Yay! You'll totally make it!

Layri, I love your rewards system, and it seems to be working great for you! WTG on the weight loss, and I hope you can get your pendant soon!

FB, I am, as always, blown away by your weight loss! Your PT sounds like she knows her stuff!

Vikki and FB, it's less about the obesity issue, and more feeling totally out of my league. I know how to use dumbbells, and the last time I picked up a barbell was over 20 years ago, but it's not rocket science. However, his "free weight" room (at the Y) has so many machines, benches and contraptions, I have no idea how to use most of them, or even what half of it is for. Tonight, I found what I'm looking for in the Y's program brochure: free equipment orientation, and also a free PT evaluation/session, which can be used once every 4 months. Tomorrow, I'll see if I can sign up for one or both of those! That should help!

Today, I made it to the Y, and got in my run, then some elliptical intervals after that. Man, the compression shorts I bought are slick as all get-out! They made my jeans slide all over the place on the way to the gym, then the running shorts I put over them shot up into my butt-crack and pretty much stayed there the whole time I was running. THAT was special! After half a mile, I gave up trying to straighten things out, and just pretended it was all part of my plan.

Oh Jammy - I didn't think it was about the obesity issue - that never crossed my mind, as I don't consider you obese. I just figured it was what you said - feeling out of your league with complicated equipment. That's why I asked about someone running through it with you to ensure your form is correct.

The steroid guys at the gym pay no attention to me. I heft my 10 pound dumbbells while they're grunting, groaning and rocking out to Fishbone. I know what you're saying though, I would have never walked into that place if not for the next door neighbor trainer. I still have no clue what many of the machines are for, they look like torture machines to me.

What are compression shorts?

Layri- you SO deserve your pendant, I too hope you can get it soon! You work so hard.

Congrats to how well everyone is doing. I am on TOM right now, so I am back up to 235, I know it is just water, but I am having cravings like mad! I ate two bowls of cereal before bed last night putting me 400 calories over! I know it's only a little slip and I could have done way worse than cereal. Just gotta keep on truckin I guess! LOL.

FB, the compression shorts I got are thin spandex/lycra type affairs. They fit like a cycling short, but minus the extra bike seat padding. The UnderArmor (sp?) brand seems most popular, but those are seriously expensive, like $40 and up, as far as I've seen, for one piece! I got some cheaper $10 ones at Walmart. I just wanted a longer, snug pair of shorts to go under a normal pair of gym shorts, because I have a hard time finding gym shorts that are long enough for my taste, without being too huge around the legs, and I'm not a fan of capri pants.

Today I'm lifting, so even if I look like a dork, I think I'll wear my long cottony spandex type running pants, so I don't scrape my legs up doing deadlifts. I've decided that even if I can't get the equipment orientation this morning, I'm going to brave the weight room and use what I know how to use to complete my workout. I'm starting the NROL program this time, and the first stage of workouts are pretty short and simple, just 5 exercises each workout.

Sgirl, you are doing great...hang in there! I struggle with cravings when I'm weight lifting. I started using protein powder this time, and even though it tastes disgusting, it really helps keep me from feeling hungry...I was totally amazed the first morning I tried it, but the high protein really does stem the cravings for me. Maybe if you try to have some fish or other high-protein source with dinner, that might help?

Jammy -- way to go, getting started at the gym! I have been too intimidated to join a gym with free weights myself. That's why I ended up joining Curves. Curves is a good re-introduction to the world of workouts for me, but at some point I will need to find a way to add free weights for strength and muscle building.

FB -- congrats on getting involved with a personal trainer -- it really paid off for you! It's hard to believe that eating more and working out less can help punch through a plateau, but many folks have reported it works.

Layri -- Congrats on those 2 pounds down! It's so exciting when the scale finally decides to acknowledge all the hard you've been putting into losing weight .


Vikki -- big kudos to you for not letting a slip up with an ornery scale get the best of you -- you got right back on track! I've had real difficulty (read: failure) doing that myself. But I have added new weapons to my arsenal and I hope that the next time I go off plan, I will be able to get right back on again.

Sgirl -- kudos to you too! TOM is such a struggle for me . Seeing the scale go up is hard to take in stride, and then the carb cravings to boot! You did a good job limiting how far you went overbudget and it looks like you are ready to get right back on track!

So far, I have been staying OP, and I've been seeing some good numbers on the scale. I don't have a weight goal in mind for this challenge, but if I continue to stay OP, it looks like I will be pleased with the result .

Jammy thank you so much for that idea! I weight train too and find I have been getting cravings because of it. I will definitely try the powder. I also go to the Y in my town, the equipment orientation was very helpful and the machines are not as complicated when they show you how they work! Good luck and have fun!

Yoyoma also thank you for the kudos! It's keeping me on track!

Vikkivma welcome and all the best!

Layri, congrats on the two pounds and I hope you win the funds to get your wolf pendant. You TOTALLY deserve.

Anyone else I did not mention...great job!

A lot of the time, those machines will come with little instructions on the side. Or, as my friend likes to do, she just waits to spy on someone else using it. lol.

Well, I finally got rid of that nasty water weight bump, and I'm down to 201.5 as of this morning, so not too bad. I'm 8 pounds off of my goal, which is going to be tough, but it's a whole lot better than being 10.5 pounds off my goal.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome!